Customizable Garment

ABSTRACT

A garment having an anthropomorphic figure formed thereon with first and second design elements and an attachment area composed of one of a hook material and loop material. The garment also includes an appliqué having the other of the hook material and loop material on at least a portion of the rear surface. The shape of the attachment area defines the first design element and the shape of the appliqué defines the second design element. The other of the hook material and the loop material on the appliqué is removably attachable to the one of the hook material and the loop material of the attachment area to form a complementary hook and loop fastener. The appliqué is sized to be smaller than the attachment area such that a portion of the attachment area is visible when the appliqué is in an attached position on the attachment area.

BACKGROUND

Hook and loop fasteners can be used to customize garments by attaching articles to the garment using the fasteners. Attaching articles to garments allows the wearer to customize their garment in different ways at different times. Such customizable garments have become popular for novelty purposes, as the wearer can express affiliation or mood in real time. For children, such customizable garments can also fill an educational purpose, allowing the child to express their creativity or current mood to others. Although easy attach/detach character of hook and loop fasteners have made them popular fasteners for these customizable garments, several problems have kept hook and loop garments from becoming more widespread.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,355 to Galanto, et al., for example, describes a hat that has an area for attaching patches signifying an organization to which the hat's wearer belongs. The loop portion can be large and formed as an integral portion of the cap or can be a smaller, attached layer. Various patches having hook portions can be interchangeably attached to the hat such that the same hat can be used at multiple functions. U.S. Pat. No. 7,765,648 to Egglesfield describes an article of clothing having an area to which display items are attached. The area of the loop material is generally very conspicuous, so it is given a round or a simple geometric shape to minimize its impact on the overall design.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,734,991 to Schmid describes wearable apparel that includes a printed or painted background scene to which articles are attached to areas of loop material by hook fasteners. In one instance, the articles are fish attached to an outer surface of a cap and the background is an underwater scene printed on the cap. In all of these teachings, the area is large, conspicuous and merely provides a location for holding the articles in place. The large canvas for the hook portions allows a lot of freedom for placement, but the large portion of the loop fabric can be stiff, uncomfortable to wear, and difficult to manufacture.

One way this problem has been addressed is to make the loop material very small, such that it disappears behind the attached article, while the background scene is printed or painted onto the garment. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,866 to Fox describes apparel to which a three-dimensional article is attached to an imprinted two-dimensional scene. The three-dimensional article can be the head of two-dimensional animal that functions as a child's toy. A simple patch of hook and loop material is used to attach the three-dimensional article to the garment. Without the attached three-dimensional article, the patch becomes an unsightly area having no relevance to the two-dimensional scene. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0068778 to Van Veghel, et al., describes a user-configurable garment with a printed background, attachment points, and a plurality of attachable components to complete the design. U.S. Patent Application Publication 2010/0058510 to Vithlani describes an article of apparel with interchangeable appliqués that decorate and modify the appearance of a printed design on the article of apparel. In all of these references, hook and loop fasteners are described as attaching the removable article to the garment, and are hidden between the article and the garment, as they are generally not aesthetically pleasing and can be overly distracting from the image depicted. As such, a small area of the hook or loop material is fixed to the garment by, for example, stitching, and removably attaches to the corresponding loop or hook material that is fixed to the article. Thus, when the article is removably attached to the garment through the hook and loop materials, the small area of the hook or loop material fixed to the garment is completely covered. Without the article attached, however, the small area of hook or loop material is visible. The small area of the hook or loop material is typically in the shape of a small circle or square and may be very conspicuous and unattractive to viewers. The visible hook and loop material may actually detract from the design, so these references disclose very small hook and loop fasteners that are hidden by the article being attached. There are also fewer places to attach articles within the scene, as well, limiting the creative expression of the wearer.

One example of attempts to solve this problem can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,678 to Jacobson, which describes a method of printing a design onto hook or loop material. As a result of the printing material being applied, the hook or loop fabric will have an ornamental design printed on it. The ornamental design is intended to blend the unattractive hook or loop fabric into the overall design. However, the process for applying the ornamental design is complicated and requires transfer of the design from an appliqué to the hook or loop fabric. The design may also be worn away by repeated attachment and removal of the detachable pieces. However, because this design is printed onto the hook or loop fabric, the printed design cannot be altered, largely defeating the advantages of the hook and loop feature of the garment.

SUMMARY

An exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a wearable garment having a fabric. The fabric has an anthropomorphic figure depicted on the surface. The figure includes a first design element and a second design element, an attachment area composed of one of a hook material and loop material, and an appliqué having a rear surface. The attachment area has a shape that defines the first element of the figure. The appliqué has a shape that defines the second design element of the figure. At least a portion of the rear surface of the appliqué is composed of the other of the hook material and loop material. The other of the hook material and the loop material on the at least a portion of the rear surface of the appliqué is removably attachable to the one of the hook material and the loop material of the attachment area, such that the at least a portion of the rear surface of the appliqué and the attachment area form a complementary hook and loop fastener. The appliqué is sized to be smaller than the attachment area such that a portion of the attachment area is visible when the appliqué is in an attached position on the attachment area.

In other, more detailed features of the invention, the one of the hook material and the loop material is a loop material and the other of the hook material and loop material is the complementary hook material. In other, more detailed features of the invention, the other of the hook material and loop material covers the rear surface of the appliqué.

In other, more detailed features of the invention, the attachment area is a first attachment area and the appliqué is a first appliqué. The garment further includes a second appliqué having a rear surface. The anthropomorphic figure further includes a third design element, a fourth design element, and a second attachment area spaced from the first attachment area having a shape defining the third element of the anthropomorphic figure. The second appliqué defining a fourth element of the anthropomorphic figure. The second attachment area is composed of one of a hook material and a loop material and at least a portion of the rear surface of the second appliqué composed of the other of the hook material and a loop material. The other of the hook material and a loop material on the at least a portion of the rear surface of the second appliqué is removably attachable to the one of a hook material and a loop material of the second attachment area. The second appliqué is sized to be smaller than the second attachment area such that a portion of the second attachment area is visible when the second appliqué is in an attached position on the second attachment area.

In other, more detailed features of the invention, the attachment area is shaped as a body part of the anthropomorphic figure and the appliqué is shaped as a feature typically found on that body part.

In yet other, more detailed features of the invention, the first attachment area and the second attachment area are respectively shaped as separate body parts of the anthropomorphic figure. The first appliqué and the second appliqué are shaped as features of the anthropomorphic figure. In still other, more detailed features of the invention, the appliqué is shaped as an article of clothing. In further, more detailed features of the invention, the first appliqué and the second appliqué are shaped as alternate versions of the same feature of the anthropomorphic figure.

In other, more detailed features of the invention, the attachment area is shaped as a face and the appliqué is shaped as a facial feature of the anthropomorphic figure. In yet other, more detailed features of the invention, the attachment area is shaped as a body and the appliqué is shaped as a feature of the anthropomorphic figure selected from a group consisting of an article of clothing, a body part, a facial feature, an article that is carried, and an article of jewelry.

In still other, more detailed features of the invention, the appliqué further includes a front surface opposite the rear surface and the front surface is composed of the one of a hook material and a loop material.

Other features of the invention should become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiment(s) taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention, the invention not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment(s) disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a garment according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the garment of FIG. 1 taken along the line 2-2.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the back of an appliqué according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the back of an appliqué according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a garment according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an appliqué suitable for use with the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a scene depicting an anthropomorphic figure according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an appliqué that can be used as an attachment area according to an embodiment of the invention.

Unless otherwise indicated, the illustrations in the above figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a garment according to an embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the garment can be a shirt, which can be worn by a person. The garment is made from a fabric 102 having an image 104 on an outer surface 106 of the fabric so that the image is visible to other persons.

As used herein, the term “image” is an entity, such as a person or human being, animal, plant, fictional being, or anthropomorphic entity, or portions thereof, for example. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the image 104 is the upper portion of a human being including a head with two eyes. Some portions of the image can be printed or dyed onto the fabric, embroidered, or otherwise stitched into the fabric, or built up from other pieces of cloth that are sewn, glued, or welded onto the fabric.

At least one portion of the image 104 includes an attachment area 108 where an appliqué 110 can be removably attached. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the attachment area is defined by the loop-bearing fabric 114 of a hook and loop fastener, and the shape of the attachment area defines an element of the image. Thus, the attachment area is formed of loop-bearing fabric and forms an element of the image, the element being the head of the image in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The attachment area is fixed, such as sewn, glued, or welded, onto the fabric such that it coordinates with the other portions of the image, such as the neck and shoulders of the image of FIG. 1.

The appliqué 110 has the complementary hook-bearing fabric 116 attached to the rear surface 112 thereof. However, it is also within the scope for the invention for the appliqué to be formed of the hook bearing fabric, rather than attached thereto. The complementary hook-bearing fabric interacts with the loop-bearing fabric 114 of the attachment area 108 to removably attach the appliqué to the attachment area. Thus, the appliqué is removably attachable to the attachment area via the complementary hook and loop fasteners. As shown in FIG. 3, the hook-bearing fabric can completely cover the rear surface of the appliqué. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, the hook-bearing fabric 112′ can cover a portion of the rear surface of the appliqué 110′. When attached to the attachment area, the appliqué forms another element of the image, in other words a “design element,” and does not completely cover the attachment area. As shown in FIG. 1, the appliqué can be an eye on the image's face, for example.

Turning now to FIG. 5, a garment according to another embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 500. The garment is made from a fabric 502 having an anthropomorphic image 504 on an outer surface 506 of the fabric. In this embodiment, the anthropomorphic image includes a plurality of attachment areas. The term “plurality” as used herein means two or more. Attachment area 508 can be shaped to resemble a potato forming a head element of the anthropomorphic image. Attachment area 518 can be shaped to resemble a neck element of the anthropomorphic image. Attachment area 528 can be shaped to resemble a shirt element covering the upper torso and arms of the anthropomorphic image, while attachment area 538 can be shaped to resemble a pants element covering the lower torso and legs of the anthropomorphic image. Attachment area 548 can be shaped to resemble a hand element of the anthropomorphic image. The attachment areas can be similarly colored, for example, attachment area 518 and attachment area 548 may both be flesh-colored; or the attachment areas can be differently colored, for example, attachment area 528 may be red-colored and attachment area 538 may be blue-colored. Additionally, attachment areas can abut one another on an edge, partially overlap one another, or be spaced apart from one another.

Also shown in FIG. 5 is a plurality of appliqués attached to the attachment areas. As shown in FIG. 5, multiple appliqués can be simultaneously attached to the same attachment area. Appliqués 510 can be shaped to resemble eye elements and attached to application area 508. At the same time, appliqué 520 can be shaped to resemble a mouth element and attached to a different location of application area 508. Appliqués can also attach to two or more attachment areas at the same time. For example, appliqué 530 can be shaped to resemble a goatee element and attach to a portion of attachment area 508 and a portion of application area 518. In addition, an appliqué can be replaced by another appliqué to alter the look of the anthropomorphic image 504. FIG. 6 shows an appliqué 520′ shaped to resemble an alternative mouth element that can replace appliqué 520 in FIG. 5, thereby changing the look of the anthropomorphic image.

In addition to elements that resemble body part elements, appliqués can be shaped to resemble other elements associated with the anthropomorphic image 504. Referring back to FIG. 5, appliqués can be shaped to resemble jewelry elements. For example, appliqué 540 can be shaped to resemble a necklace element attached to attachment area 528 and appliqué 550 can be shaped to resemble a ring element attached to attachment area 548. Clothing elements, portions of clothing elements, and accessory elements can also be attached to attachment areas. For example, appliqué 560 can be shaped to resemble a mitten element attached to attachment area 528, appliqué 570 can be shaped to resemble a symbol element attached to attachment area 528, and appliqué 580 can be shaped like a belt element attached to attachment areas 528 and 538.

It should be noted that in some embodiments, only a portion of an appliqué may attach to the attachment area, while another portion of the appliqué may be unattached to an attachment area. As can be seen in FIG. 5, a portion appliqué 560 is attached to a portion 558 of attachment area 528. The edge 511, shown in phantom, of attachment area 528 underlies the appliqué and the area beyond the edge is unattached to the garment 500.

Turning now to FIG. 7, a scene including an anthropomorphic image 704 is shown generally at 700. The scene can include images 714 without attachment areas. The anthropomorphic image includes attachment areas 708, 718, and 728. Attachment area 708 is shaped to resemble a combined head and body element of an anthropomorphic tree. Attachment area 718 is shaped to resemble a combined arm and hand element and attachment areas 728 are shaped to resemble combined leg and foot elements. As can be seen from FIG. 7, a portion 738 of attachment area 718 overlies attachment area 708. In other embodiments an entire attachment area can overlie another attachment area.

The anthropomorphic image 704 also includes a plurality of appliqués attached to the attachment areas. Several appliqués are shaped to resemble facial elements. Appliqués 710 are shaped to resemble eyebrow elements, appliqués 720 are shaped to resemble eye elements, and appliqués 730 and 740 are shaped to resemble a nose element and a mouth element, respectively, all attached to attachment area 708. Additionally, the anthropomorphic image can include clothing elements. Appliqué 750 can be shaped to resemble a hat element attached to attachment area 708 and appliqué 760 can be shaped to resemble a boot element attached to attachment area 728. Jewelry and accessory elements can also be included in the anthropomorphic image. Appliqué 770 can be shaped to resemble a necklace attached to attachment area 708 and appliqué 780 can be shaped to resemble a handbag or purse partially attached to attachment area 718.

Still referring to FIG. 7, it should be noted that appliqués can be constructed to attach to attachment areas and also act as attachment areas. For example, appliqué 780 can include appliqués 790 attached thereto. As shown in FIG. 8, appliqué 780 can be constructed with loop fabric 814 on one surface 806 and hook fabric 816 on the opposite surface 812 can function as both an appliqué and an attachment area. An optional support layer or fabric 815 can be between the hook and loop fabrics, or the hook and loop fabrics can be joined together.

In the embodiment of the invention described above, the garment is a shirt; however, the invention is not limited to shirts. In other embodiments, the garment can be other types of clothing or accessories, such as blouses, pants, skirts, dresses, hats, shoes, coats, jackets, sweaters, scarves, or other wearable items, or non-wearable items, such as purses, clutches, backpacks, satchels, handbags, or other accessories, for example.

The garment is typically made of cloth fabric, such as cotton, wool, linen, polyester, or other fibers that can be spun, or combinations and blends thereof. In some embodiments, the fabric can be leather, imitation leather, fur, imitation fir, felt, or other materials.

As described above, the attachment area is defined by the loop-bearing fabric of a hook and loop fastener, and the rear surface of the appliqué includes the hook-bearing fabric. This combination results in the garment having exposed loop-bearing fabric, even when an appliqué is attached, since the appliqué does not completely cover the attachment area. Loop-bearing fabric is softer and more comfortable than hook-bearing fabric, so its use for the attachment area is preferable. However, there may be embodiments of the invention in which it is desirable to have the attachment area be defined by the hook-bearing fabric and the back of the appliqué include the loop-bearing fabric.

The image in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is that of a human being's upper body, including the head, neck, shoulders, and upper chest. Other possible images include complete bodies or smaller portions of bodies, such as just a face, for example. Furthermore, images can include various animals and plants, including anthropomorphized animals and plants. Additionally, the image can be of fictional beings, such as elves, unicorns, snowmen, and the like. Anthropomorphic objects, such as potatoes with faces, clocks with eyes and arms, cartoon characters, space aliens, and others, for example, are also possible images that can be used.

The shape of the attachment area forms an element of the anthropomorphic figure. For example, in FIG. 1, the attachment area is shaped to form the head or face element of the figure. The element formed by the attachment area can be a minor element, such as an ear, for example, or the element can be a major element, such as a face, for example. Regardless of the size of the attachment area, it is not completely covered by an attached appliqué. Thus, the element of the image formed by the attachment area remains visible and an element of the image. Example elements formed by the shape of the attachment area can include an entire body or portions of a body, a tree or other plant, and portions of a plant. In addition, there may be multiple attachment areas forming multiple elements of the figure.

Having the shape of the attachment area form an element of the image affords a larger area for appliqués to be attached. For example, if the attachment area forms the element of a head of the image, appliqués forming eyes can be placed in a variety of locations, such as both eyes placed on the left side of the head. The larger area can also include an unusual number of appliqués, for example, an image could include two mouths on an attachment area shaped as a head. By not completely covering the attachment area, the context created by the element of the image is maintained or enhanced. For example, appliqués forming eyes and a mouth can be attached to an attachment area forming the element of a head of an anthropomorphic figure. Because the eyes and mouth do not fully cover the attachment area, the anthropomorphic figure's head remains a part of the overall image, and is further enhanced by the shapes of the appliqués. An upturned mouth and wide eyes may convey a happy face, while a downturned mouth and narrow eyes may convey a sad face. This use of attachable anthropomorphic design elements allows creativity and expression beyond a mere background scene, and allows communication of mood, fashion, etc. As both the appliqué and attachment area are design elements of an anthropomorphic figure, even if the wearer elects to wear the apparel without an appliqué, the apparel may still be aesthetically pleasing as well as expressive.

Appliqués are formed to attach to the attachment area and be additional elements of the image. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, an appliqué can be in the shape of an eye that that is attachable to an attachment area in the shape of a face. Other shapes of appliqués suitable for attachment to an attachment area in the shape of a face include ears, mouth, nose, hair, beards, and other facial elements, for example. Depending on the shape of attachment area, appliqués can be in the shape of items of clothing, other body parts such as arms or legs, jewelry or other ornamentation, branches, claws, antennae, and other shapes that are complementary to the image. In addition, in one embodiment a single appliqué is attached to the attachment area. In other embodiments, multiple appliqués are attached to the attachment area.

Appliqués can be made of fabric, for example, the same fabric as the garment. In some embodiments, the appliqué can be made of a fabric that is different than the fabric of the garment. In yet other embodiments, the appliqué can be made of other materials, such as leather, plastic, or fur, for example.

The rear side of the appliqué includes a portion of hook and loop fabric that is complementary to the hook and loop fabric of the attachment area. Thus, if the attachment area is defined by loop fabric, the appliqué will include hook fabric. In some embodiments, the complementary hook and loop fabric covers the rear surface of the appliqué. In other embodiments, the complementary hook and loop fabric covers a portion of the rear surface of the appliqué.

In use, an appliqué is attached to the garment by pressing the complementary hook and loop fabric on the rear surface against the attachment area. The complementary hook and loop fabric removably attaches the appliqué to the garment. To remove, the appliqué is pulled away from the attachment area until the complementary hook and loop fabric releases.

All of the features disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, and all of the steps in any method or process disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The foregoing detailed description of the present invention is provided for purposes of illustration, and it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the particular embodiments disclosed. The embodiments may provide different capabilities and benefits, depending on the configuration used to implement the key features of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined only by the following claims. 

We claim:
 1. A wearable garment comprising: a fabric having an anthropomorphic figure depicted on a surface of the fabric, the anthropomorphic figure including a first design element and a second design element; an attachment area composed of one of a hook material and a loop material and having a shape defining the first design element of the anthropomorphic figure; and an appliqué having a rear surface, the appliqué having a shape defining the second design element of the anthropomorphic figure, wherein at least a portion of the rear surface of the appliqué composed of the other of the hook material and the loop material; wherein the other of the hook material and the loop material on the at least a portion of the rear surface of the appliqué is removably attachable to the one of the hook material and the loop material of the attachment area, such that the at least a portion of the rear surface of the appliqué and the attachment area form a complementary hook and loop fastener, and wherein the appliqué is sized to be smaller than the attachment area such that a portion of the attachment area is visible when the appliqué is in an attached position on the attachment area.
 2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the one of the hook material and the loop material is a loop material and the other of the hook material and the loop material is the complementary hook material.
 3. The garment of claim 1, wherein the other of the hook material and the loop material covers the rear surface of the appliqué.
 4. The garment of claim 1, wherein the attachment area is a first attachment area, the appliqué is a first appliqué, and the anthropomorphic figure further includes a third design element and a fourth design element, the garment further comprising: a second appliqué having a rear surface, a shape defining the third element of the anthropomorphic figure, and wherein at least a portion of the rear surface of the second appliqué is composed of one of a hook material and a loop material; and a second attachment area spaced from the first attachment area, having a shape defining the fourth element of the anthropomorphic figure, and composed of the other of the hook material and the loop material, wherein the one of the hook material and the loop material on the at least a portion of the rear surface of the second appliqué is removably attachable to the other of the hook material and the loop material of the second attachment area, and wherein the second appliqué is sized to be smaller than the second attachment area such that a portion of the second attachment area is visible when the second appliqué is in an attached position on the second attachment area.
 5. The wearable garment of claim 1, wherein the attachment area is shaped as a body part of the anthropomorphic figure and the appliqué is shaped as a feature typically found on that body part.
 6. The wearable garment of claim 4, wherein the first attachment area and the second attachment area are respectively shaped as separate body parts of the anthropomorphic figure, and wherein the first appliqué and the second appliqué are shaped as features of the anthropomorphic figure.
 7. The wearable garment of claim 1, wherein the appliqué is shaped as an article of clothing.
 8. The wearable garment of claim 1, wherein the appliqué is a first appliqué, the garment further comprising a second appliqué, and wherein the first appliqué and the second appliqué are shaped as alternate versions of the same feature of the anthropomorphic figure.
 9. The wearable garment of claim 1, wherein the attachment area is shaped as a face and wherein the appliqué is shaped as a facial feature of the anthropomorphic figure.
 10. The wearable garment of claim 1, wherein the attachment area is shaped as a body and wherein the appliqué is shaped as a feature of the anthropomorphic figure selected from a group consisting of an article of clothing, a body part, a facial feature, an article that is carried, and an article of jewelry.
 11. The wearable garment of claim 1, wherein the appliqué further includes a front surface opposite the rear surface and the front surface is composed of the one of a hook material and a loop material. 